Method of inspecting railroad cars and apparatus therefor



Feb. 24, 1931. M. w. CLEMENT 1,793,903

METHOD OF INSPECTING RAILROAD CARS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed June 15. 1930 a Sheets-Sheet 1 BY W TTORNEYS.

Feb. 24-, 1931. M. w. CL'EMENT 1,793,908

METHOD OF INSPECTING RAILROAD CARS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed June 13. 1950 5 Sheets-$heet 2 F1 G H WITNESfi 1Z1 INVENTOR: M Mmmmazmzem;

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 24, 1931. M. w. CLEMENT 1,793,908

IETHOD OF INSPECTING RAILROAD CARS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed June 13, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FZGEZHL IN VEN TOI I: 144mm;

Mad, 7 I m Mm 2 I TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 24, 1931 stares Tatvr rrrce MARTIN W. GLEMEN '1, OF HAVERFORTD, PENNSYLVANIA METHOD OF INSPECTING RAILROAD CARS AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Application filed June 13,

relates also to an inspection pit located beneath a section of track and so designed and equipped with a variety of appliances as to permit anobserver therein to make a con y lo plete underneath examination of passing cars such'cars as are defective. a

The prlncipal ob ect of the inventionjis to reducetrain accidents by eliminating a comand tomark forsubsequent identification 15 inon cause of such accidents, namely, detective condition of the running gear or of parts or attachments on the. under-frame of cars, Which condition under presentrailroac practice is frequently not detected and is too often 2c the immediate cause of serious accidents. In the ordinary ground inspection of cars in a yard many defects which represent latent dangers are not detected because they are not visible from the ground. With freight cars isuch detects commonly include cracked arch bars, bent or broken center sills, and loose Wheels, defects which sometimes can only be discovered by a thorough examination of the cars from beneath. My invention provides the facilities for conducting a careful inspection of the underparts of cars so that such cars as are in a dangerous or defective con- 7 dition may be removed from service and re paired.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inspection pit so constructed that it can be readily installed and removed, or changed from place to place Without difficulty, and so equipped that a single observer, i i adequately protected against injury and having a vieivlengthwise of the track and iii both directions, can selectively mark detective cars and signal to a remote station Whenever a car is so marked.

43 Still other objects of the invention will be apparent from the followingdetailed d scription of an example of the method of conducting an inspection of cars according to this invention and of an inspection pit de- J11 signed for this purpose, the pit being illus- 1930. Serial No. 460,821.

trated in the accompanying drawings, of

which: i

Fig. I represents a plan view of two freight yards connected by a single track in Which the inspection pit of this invention is located. Fig. II represents a SlCle. elevation of the same showing the gradeofthe connecting track.

Fig. III represents an enlarged cross-scction of the inspection pit and tunnelleading thereto, taken as indicated by the lines IIIIII of Fig. I. 1

Fig. IV represents an enlarged cross-section oft-he inspection pit taken by the lines IV--IV of Fig. III.

Fig. V represents a plan view of the inspection pit, its appurtenances, and the overlying section of track. .1

Fig. VI represents a longitudinal :section of the sameshowing an observer in the pit inspecting passing freight cars.

Fig. VII represents a crosssection of the same taken as indicated by the lines VII-VII of Fig. VI.

as indicated Fig. VIII represents a longitudinal sce'-- tion similar to Fig. VI, but enlarged and showing in detail various appliances located in the inspectionpit.

Fig. IX represents a erosssection oi. the. same, taken as indicated by the lines IXIX of FigVIII. I I

Fig. X is a detailed sectional View of a three-way valve controlling the delivery ofa spray marking detective cars.

Fig. XI is a similar View showing the same valve with its handle turned to a different position; and

Fig. XII is a similar view showing the same valve with its handle turned to a third position. i

Referring to Figs. I and II, there is dine grammatically represented a portion of a receiving yard comprehensively designated by the numeral 1, a portion of a classification yard similarly designated by the numeral 2. and connecting track 3 with an inspection pit located at I. Beyond the inspection pit l there is shown a dovvn grade 5 leading tothe classification yard 2.

As shown in Fig. II, the pit 4 is located within an embankmentand is accessible from both s des of the embankment through a tunnel constructed of a number of sections 6 ofconcrete pipe of suhstantially cylindrical 6. 7 It will be apparent that the concrete pipe sectionsS used for the tunnel and the various sections of the pit itself comprise concrete units which can be bodily installed, removed, and changed from place to place with a minimuin of labor, the structure nevertheless be ing of ample strength and rigidity to support with a considerable margin of safety the overlying track.

The station for the observercomprises a .revolvalole seat 11 having, as clearly illustrated in Fig. VH1, a. screw threaded shaft 12 engagingin a similarly thread-ed support 13,

so'that the chair may be raised. or lowered and revolved from side to side. lhe support 13 includes a foot r il 1-9 whichenables the observer to reverse the position of the seat 11 by pushing with his feet, his hands being occupied in performing other services. Immediately above the observers station and bridging the side walls 8 of'thepit, there is a protective coverim in the form of a metal casin 14. The casing 14 comprises a roof 15 extending across the track 3 at substantially the levelof the top of the rails 9 and front and rear inclined portions having openings 17 therein permitting an unobstructed view along the track in both directions. Slidable Windows '181are provided at the openings 17 so that the'pit may be completely covered when not in use. Joining the inclined pore ti'on's 16 of the casing'l l with the side walls 8 of the pit are horizontal portions 19 upon which a number of searchlights 20, 21 are mounted. v I

Twopairs of searchlights 20 are mounted, one pair at the front and one pair at therear of the casing 14, on brackets 22 and are so directed as to cast their beams from the sides of the track 3 toward the center and at such an angle as to illuminate the underparts of a one at the rear, centrally between the rails, these searchlights being adapted to be sw1v-- elled about the joints 23 by means of the handle extensions 24 which pass through the casing 14, so as 'tobe readily accessible to the observer. By means of the searchlights 21 the observer may focus a beam of light upon any particular part of a passlng car which requires special attention; The searchlights 20, 21 herein described have been found to provide ample illumination for inspecting cars at night and enable the continuous use of the pit, day and night, for inspecting all cars passing thereover.

The apparatus for marking defective cars for subsequent identification comprises genorally 2 whitewash service tank 25, spray jets 26 and various appliances and fittings for controlling the spray. It will be obvious th at.

other forms of coloring material maybe used instead of whitewash, and that the system for spraying the coloring medium as here1nafter described represents merely one convenient method of marking or'identifying defective cars. I r

As shown'in Fig. V,'air from a yard airsupply is admitted through a supply pipe2l,

stop valve 28 and gage 29 to twobranches of a pipe 30. it the ends of the pipe 30 ere are two t res-way valves 31, 32 having 9 r ipe 3 a to the service'tank, as

onnections 33,

f in,

valve Ellis shown in each of the positions may assume, the normal position p shown in Fig. X in which the air 13 )i Y 'roin pipe'30 is cut off andthetank onnnunication-with the pipe 35 leadoperate-a in the same'manner to control the spray of whitewash through pipe 36 and the spray nozzle 26 located at the opposite side of the track. Theobserver by operating either valve 31, 32 located acent the seat 11 may selectively operate-either spray nozzle 26 to spray the truck of a passing car with white, wash on one side or the other.

lEym ans of this selection the observer may, for example, mark cars on one side to indicate defects in car requiring that the car he n'to the shop for repair, or may mark cars on the other side to indicate defects which can be repaired in the classification yard.-

At the top of the whitewashtank 25 a vent 38 and an opening 39 which can be used as an inlet for charging the tank are provided, and at the bottom of the tank there is shown a drain plug 40.

In addition to the marking apparatus there also provided within convenient reach of the observer a bell ringer ll which is used as a signal to a remote station to warn an inspeccars marked as defective. Obviously if the pipe connections 35, 36 to the spray and X11, one three-way i 1 hen the valve 31 is turned to the pit observer, or an assistant to him in the pit, maintains a record of the defects noted, though it is impossible. for him to ascertain the car numbers of the cars on which the defects exist, this record can be subsequently used for comparison Withthe records of paired cars, and a thorough checking of the results of the inspectionand the repairs made i yard 2. The engine after uncoupling re.-

turns by a run-around track to push other trains in succession over the inspection pit. The trains are moved at a slow unlform speed,

preferably about two miles per hour, over the inspection pit. 'Atthisrate of speed it has been found possible for alert observer. to make a thorough examination of each pas:-

- ing car, turning in hisseat-ll to obtain both a w detective cars are segregated into front and rear view of each trucl: as it passes the inspection pit, and manipulating the scarchlights with one hand and the control valves of the marking apparatus and the bell ringer With the other hand. When a defect is noted the observer, acccrding to the nature of the defect, operates one of the control valves 81, 32 to deliver a jet of Whitewash on the truck of the car overhead and immediately thereafter operates the bell rin er to Warn the advance inspector to be on the Watch for a marked car. in the classification yard, the two groups apart from the remaining cars, and the group requiring shop repairs is ultimately removed for such repairs.

By means of the method therein outlined and the design and facilities of the inspection pit LS herein descrioed, train l fi lol s may be considerably reduced in number. While l have described the invention in some detail With reference to a specific embodiment of the apparatus used and a specific example of the preferred method of conductingthe inspection, it will be apparent that various departures may be had from the practice of the invention as described Wit out departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims I have illustrated an inspection pit constructed in accordance .employed at the entrance to the receiving railroad track, including a yard or in any other convenient place in a railroad.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

13A method of inspecting "aih-oad cars or the like for defects in undcrparts which consists in moving a train of cars at a slow uniform speed over an inspection station, xamining each car from beneath it pas over the inspection station, and marking for identification such cars as are defective. e

2. A method of inspecting railroad cars or the like for defects in underparts which consists in moving at a 510W uniform speed a series of trains from one yard to another over a track having an inspection station therebeneath, examining each car from beneath as it passes over the inspection station, identifying such cars as are detectiveyand segregating the defective cars in the lastmentioned yard. i

A methodof inspecting railroad cars or i the like for defects in underparts which can sists in successively pushing at a SlOW uni.-

torm speed a series of trains from a receiving yardto a track having an inspection station therebeneath and having a downward incline beyond said inspection station, ex-

amining each car from beneath as it passes the inspection station, and allowing each train to moveby its 0 W11 weight from said in clinetoa track in a receiving yard therebebeyond.

4:. A method of inspecting railroad cars 01' the like for defects in underparts which consists inmoving a car at a slow uniform speedover an inspection station, examining each car from underneath as it passes over the inspection station, markingtor identification such cars as are defective, and signalling to a remote station each time a mark is applied.

5. An inspection pit underlying a section ofrailroa'd track including a station from which an observed mayinspect the underparts of cars passing thereovcr, a ud means at said station for markin uch cars as are defective. i

6.1 An inspection pit underlying a section of station from which anobserver may inspect the under-parts of cars passing thereover,and a protective covering above said station, said covering having openings therein permitting a view lengthwise of the track in both directions.

7. An inspection pit underlying a section of railroad track, including a protective covering having openings therein permitting a view lengthwise'of the track in both directions, and a revolvableseat beneath said protective covering.

8. An inspection pit underlying a section of railroad track, including a protective covering -having openings permitting a view lengthwise of the track and a searchlight mounted on said covering.

i 9. Aninspection pit underlying a section of railroad track, including a station from which an observer may inspectithe underparts of cars passing thereover, a protective covering above vsaid station having an opening permitting a view from saidistation lengthwise of the tracln a searchlight mounted on-the outside of said covering, and means on the inside of'said covering for swivelling said searchlight.

10. Aninspection. pit and rlying a section of railroad-track, including a protective co -J ering having openings therein permitting a view lengthwise of the track in both d rections, a revolvable seat beneath said covering, searchlights mounted on saidcovering and adapted to cast their beams in opposite di-v rections, and means accessible from said re- I track; and a tunnel lea-ding to said pit 'com- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Philadelph a, Pen-nsyL Vania, this 11th day of June, 1980. V MARTIN XV. CLEMENT.

volvable seat for sw-iv-eiling saidsearchlights.

11. Aninspection pit underlyinga section or" railroad track, including aprotectedstation from which an observer may inspect the underparts of cars passing thereover, means for applying an identifying mark to such cars as. are defe'ctivelwhile such cars are movingover the station, and means readily accessible to the observer forcontrolling the op- I eration of said marking means.

12. An ins ection it underl m a section or" railroadtrack,including a protected station from which anobservermay inspect the underparts'of cars P35511129: thereover, means for controllingthe application ofan identitying marl; to such cars as are defective, and means for signall ng to a remote station each time a mark is applied, said controlling;- means and signalllng means be ng readlly accessible to the observer. 7' V 13. An IIISPBClDlOIl pit underlying a section of railroad track, including a' protected station from which an observer may inspect the under-parts of cars passing thereover,-means for delivering a sprayto mark-defective cars while such cars are moving over-the station,

trolling theoperation of said spray.

14. An inspection pit underlying a section of railroad track, including'a-ostation from which an observer may inspect the underparts of cars passing thereover, and meansat said station whereby the observer may. selectlvely mark cars while'movmg over said station to indicate di'iierent classes of defects.

15. In combination an inspectionpit underlying a section of railroad track comprisin a number of concrete sections forming a substantially cox-shapedstructure and a tunnel leading to said pit comprising sections of concrete pipe, said tunnel and pit concrete sections being bodily removable without demolition.

16. In combination a substantiallyboxshaped concrete inspection pit, including a fiooniront and rear walls, and arches sup- )porting the rails of an overlying section of v and avalve accessible to the observer for con- 1 

